Kenyan lecturer wins Asia trip after leading wellbeing journey challenge

Kenyan lecturer Wangari Mutuku has earned a fully sponsored fifteen day trip across Asia after recording an improvement in her wellbeing journey that ranked first among participants during the Old Mutual Thrive challenge. The competition ran from August one to August twenty three twenty twenty six and attracted eight hundred thirty six participants who tracked steps sleep and financial habits. Wangari recorded an increase in her Thrive Score that ranked first among participants and the score measures physical activity nutrition and financial wellbeing. You can read about her achievement and the challenge details in this article right now.

The Old Mutual Thrive app lets users monitor physical wellness nutrition and financial wellbeing in one place while connecting a smartwatch for easier tracking. Wangari said the platform helped her become intentional about her nutrition and inspired her to add swimming to her running routine as part of her wellbeing journey. She also mentioned that the challenge made her conscious of how food choices affect her physical health.

Janet Waiyaki head of Thrive and Ecosystem said the challenge shows how behavioural science technology and meaningful incentives can encourage positive change. She added that what excites the team is not the destination but the consistent intentional improvements Wangari made to her daily habits as part of her wellbeing journey. The initiative shows Old Mutual's broader commitment to helping Kenyans take a proactive approach to physical and financial wellbeing.

Winnie Muthoga director of Wavu Travels said travel creates memories broadens perspectives and inspires new possibilities for those who improve their wellbeing journey. The partnership between Old Mutual Thrive and Wavu Travels has now delivered three international travel experiences in twenty twenty six for participants who achieved measurable lifestyle improvements. Wangari will receive return flights accommodation airport transfers visa facilitation and a coordinated itinerary across Thailand Singapore Bali and Malaysia.

Across the challenge participants collectively recorded seventy point seven million steps which equals about fifty three thousand kilometres or one point three times around the Earth. They also logged four thousand nine hundred nineteen hours of exercise and five hundred fourteen people reached at least ten thousand steps in a single day. Forty five percent averaged at least one hundred fifty minutes of exercise per week while fifty percent averaged seven to nine hours of sleep each night as part of their wellbeing journey.

The Old Mutual Thrive platform now counts more than two hundred seventy thousand registered users who can assess financial wellbeing monitor physical wellness and join challenges that support their wellbeing journey. Digital wellbeing tools like this are playing an increasing role in helping individuals understand measure and improve overall health and financial habits. The campaign demonstrates how technology incentives and community support can turn everyday choices into experiences that participants value across Kenya.